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Engineer: Gay & High intersection needs full-depth reconstruction after poor subbase found
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Summary
Roadway cores at Gay & High showed poorly made subbase that is hardening and failing; the borough will pursue full-depth reconstruction, intermittent lane closures and potential grant applications for other intersections and crosswalks.
An engineering assessment presented to the Public Works Committee on March 10 found the subbase beneath the Gay & High Street intersection is of poor quality and will require full-depth reconstruction.
Kelly Goff, an engineer with Remington and Verdeck Engineers, told the committee that roadway cores taken in February showed material described as "perma sand mixed with...uncured concrete" that had begun to harden. "So our next step would be to do full-depth reconstruction of that intersection," she said, adding partial lane closures will be intermittent while work continues.
Council members pressed whether other intersections and crosswalks—Darlington & Gay, Church & Gay and sections on West Market Street—should be bundled for future grant applications. Goff said Gay & High is the worst visually but staff will evaluate additional locations and pursue grant opportunities to address crosswalks and sinking sidewalks.
Members discussed causes and contractor responsibility; the chair said the contractor who originally installed the failing section no longer works for the borough and that past procurement and low-bid outcomes created a legacy issue. The committee also agreed to use stamped asphalt for the new crosswalk treatments; staff noted color will fade but that the surface will perform like a regular road if the foundation is corrected.
No formal appropriation or construction schedule was approved at this meeting; staff said they will pursue grants and bring design and procurement steps back to council for funding and scheduling decisions.
